Preparation and application of highly dispersed CB/PDMS composite material using Pickering emulsion as template

The conductive composite material composed of polymer matrix and conductive filler played a crucial role in the flexible sensor. However, the development of highly dispersed conductive composite with high repeatability remains a challenge. In this paper, the highly dispersed carbon black/polydimethylsiloxane (CB/PDMS) composite material was prepared successfully using Pickering emulsion as template and their applications in the field of flexible sensors were explored. Based on the good conductivity of CB and the flexibility of PDMS, the obtained CB/PDMS composite material exhibited excellent electrical conductivity and high sensitivity with GF value 23.12. Moreover, the CB/PDMS composite material could resist up to 1,500,000 stretch-release cycles based on the good dispersibility of CB. The resistance of composite material exhibited significant changes under different strains, which allowed it for the application of flexible strain sensor to detect the finger movements, wrist motions as well as elbow bending successfully. This work has the potential applications in the field of flexible mechanical arms, data glove and blood pressure measurement, etc.